Locomotive cow-catcher



(No Model.) 3 Sheets--S1zeei; 1.

J. PLEGK.

LOOOMOTIVE 00w GATOHER.

No. 320,864. Patented June 23, 1885.

N. PETERS. PhulnLilhognphur. Washington, D. C.

(No- Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. FLEOK;

LOGOMOTIVE COW OATGHER.

Patented June 23, 1885..

Zzvezztoz" N. PETERS PhnloLilhographur. Washington. a. c.

(No Model.) a ShetsSheet 3.

J. FLEOK.

LOGOMOTIVE 00W GATGHER.

No. 320,864. Q Patented June 23, 1885.,

L a 1 5 e419? 3 fnaeruar:

N. PErERs. PhnIo-Lilhngnpher, Wrnhinglon, D C.

UNITED STA ES PATENT ()FFICE.

JOHN FLEOK, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

LOCOMOTlVE COW-CATCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 320,864, dated June 23,1885.

Application filed February 12, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN FLEcK, a citizen of the United States, residingat Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in LocomotiveCow-Catchers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figuresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a bottom plan view of a portion of a pilot-truck of alocomotive, and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same and partialsection through the line or :0, looking in the direction of the arrows.Fig. 3 is a side elevation of my improvement.

My present improvement relates to cowcatchers of locomotives, or devicesfor removing obstructions which may lie upon a railroad-track.

The invention consists of one or more revolving wings or arms mountedupon a horizontal rod, the rotation of which, through mechanismhereinafter described, is calculated to remove obstructions from thetrack.

A represents a portion of the forward frame or pilot-truck of thelocomotive.

B is a rod secured to the frame A, and projecting horizontally in frontof the locomotive sufficiently far to carry the operating-wings of theobstruction-remover. This rod is mounted in bearings, so that it mayrevolve under the action of the wings.

O is a cog-wheel mounted upon the rod B, and meshes with anothercog-wheel, D, in order to give steadiness of motion.

E is a ratchet-wheel mounted upon the same shaft B, and is provided witha spring-pawl, which allows of the shaft B being rotated in onedirection only.

F is a central bore made in the rearward end of the shaft 13, andextends about half-way through the same.

G is a pipe-connection leading from the end of shaft B to either thesteam-space of the 10- comotive or to the exhaust from the steamchestsof the steam-cylinders. The connection between shaft B and pipe G ismade steamtight, and yet allows of the free revolution of the shaft. Thecentral bore in the shaft terminates at its mid-length in four radialsteampassages, each of which leads to one of the four wings I) of therevolving fan H. Each of the wings b has a steam-passage connecting withan opening, a, and leading to the holes 0 near the outer end of the fan,through which the steam is discharged, and by its reactionary forcecauses the wings to revolve. The holes 0 are made at right angles to thelength of the wings, and the steam-exhaust takes place in a line tangentto the peripheral path of the wings. The revolution of the wings I) andthe shaft B carries with it also the wings I and K, which are keyedrigidly to the shaft. The outer series of wings, K, are of less diameterthan the others, and are, consequently, higher from the track. The wingsI and H are longer, as will be seen in Fig. 1, the latter being from sixto nine inches above the track.

It will be obvious that by a proper inclination of the revolving seriesof wings the impact of the atmosphere upon the fans when the train ismoving rapidly may be employed to give them the necessary rotation. Thewings are adapted by their revolution to throw obstructions from thetrack. It will also be apparent that the wings or fans might revolveupon the shaft B and the latter remain stationary.

Any number of series of fans may be used, and any number of wings in theseries.

The control or the turning off and on of the steam to the fan isintended to be operated from the locomotive-caboose by means of suitablelever-connections.

The arrangement of the gear-wheels C D is for the purpose of making aconnection with the pilot-truck (should it be deemed expedient) anddriving the Wings by means of the rotation of the wheels.

The inclined wings or vanes may be used in conjunction with thesteam-ports in the vanes. The one is the auxiliary of the other, andboth can be used upon the same cow-catcher.

This construction or arrangement is often of advantage in instances suchas climbing grades,

where the full steam-power is necessary to drive the locomotive, or, inthe case of exhauststeam, when the locomotive is on a downgrade and thesteam shut off.

I claim-- 1. In a locomotive cow-catcher or device for removingobstructions from the track, a revolving projecting rod, two or morevanes carried thereby, and steam-ports located therein, all constructedto act in combination substantially as set forth.

2. In a locomotive cow-catcher, a horizontally-projecting rod, incombination with two or more vanes having their wings arranged at aninclined angle with respect to said rod, substantially as set forth.

3. In a locomotive cow-catcher, arevolving

